Dispensing apparatus



Sept. 8, 1959 7 w. J. ECKLES 2,903,157

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed vom. s, 1957 INVENT OR.

MM #221,, My.

United States Patent DISPENSING APPARATUS William J. Eckles, Anaheim,Calif.

Application October 3, 1957, Serial No. 687,929

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-480) This invention relates to a dispensing apparatusand more particularly to a combination pouring spout and sifter adaptedfor use in dispensing granulated material, such as table salt orthelike.

The instant dispensing apparatus is an improvement of the dispensingapparatus disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 670,253,filed July 5, 1957.

In instances where the container incorporating the im- ,proveddispensing apparatus is subjected to vigorous shaking 'in order to siftthe contents from the container, it is oftentimes desirable topositively lock the pouring spout in a closed position and preventaccidental opening thereof.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide acombination pouring spout and sifter which includes means for positivelylocking the pouring spout in a closed position notwithstanding thevigorousness of the shaking to which the container incorporating theimproved apparatus is subjected.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combinationpouring spout and sifter which is simple yet sturdy in construction,facile to manipulate, inexpensive to manufacture, and effective fordispensing the contents .from the container either by pouring in asingle large stream or by sifting in a plurality of relatively finestreams.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a combinationpouring spout and sifter which is compact, does not Weaken thecontainer, and does not interfere with the containers, incorporating theimproved apparatus, being stacked on top of one another when suchcontainers are packed for shipment or arranged for display.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a dispensingapparatus is provided for use on a container surface provided with anelongated primary aperture and a plurality of secondary aperturesarranged in a pair of relatively spaced substantially coextensiveelongated rows disposed adjacent the opposite elongated sides of theprimary aperture. The improved apparatus comprises a first memberslidably mounted on the apertured container surface and in overlyingrelation with respect to said primary andsecondary apertures. The firstmember is provided with an elongated first opening disposed incontinuous registered relation with the container surface -primaryaperture upon sliding of said first member, and a plurality of secondopenings arranged in rows corresponding to the rows of secondaryapertures formed in said container surface, the rows of 'second openingsbeing disposed in registered relation with the rows of secondaryapertures only when the first member is in a predetermined position ofsl-idable adjustment. Carried by the first member is a spout memberwhich is pivotal about an axis disposed adjacent one side of the firstopening and substantially transverse to the rows of second openings. Thespout member includes an elongated first portion extending in onedirection from the pivotal axis and is adapted to assume an overlyingposition with respect to the first opening and efi'ect closing off same.Extending in the opposite direction from the pivotal axis of the spoutmember is a second portion which pivots as a unit with the firstportion. The second portion of the spout member is adapted to bedisposed intermediate a portion of the container surface circumjacentthe primary aperture and .a portion of the first member superposedtherewith, when said first member is in its aforementioned predeterminedposition of slidable adjustment, whereby the spout member .is locked ina closing position with respect to the first opening formed in the firstmemher.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should bemade to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container incorporatingthe improved dispensing apparatus and showing the latter in a positionfor permitting sifting of the contents from the container;

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but showing the improved dispensingapparatus in changed position, wherein the second openings of the slidemember are out of registration with the secondary apertures formed inthe container end surface and the spout member is in its closedposition, thereby rendering the improved apparatus inoperative foreither sifting or pouring the contents from the container;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but showing the spout member of theimproved dispensing apparatus in position for permitting pouring of thecontents from the container;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4d 0f Fig. l

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 55 offig. .1; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container shownin Fig. 1with the improved dispensing apparatus removed therefrom and Fig. 7 isan enlarged perspective View of the improved dispensing apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly .to Figs. 1-3, acontainer 10 for use in packing granulated material, such as table saltand the like, is shown, having a tubular body 11 and flat disc-like ends12. Provided in one of the disc-like ends 12 are an elongated primaryaperture 13 and a plurality of secondary apertures 14 arranged in a pairof rows, said rows being disposed adjacent the elongated sides of saidprimary aperture (see Fig. 6).. The secondary apertures 14 arerelatively small by comparison with aperture 13 and are arranged inlinear spaced relation with each row. The number, size, and arrangementof the secondary aper tures relative to the primary aperture may bevaried as desired Without departing from the scope of this inventron.

Cooperating with the apertured end of the container 10 is the improveddispensing apparatus 15. The apparatus 15 in this instance comprises afirst member 16 which is mounted in overlying relation with respect toapertures 13 and 14, and is slidable relative to end sur face 12 in adirection parallel to the elongated axis of aperture 13. Slide member 16is provided with an elongated first opening 17 which is adapted to be incontinuous registered relation with respect to primary aperture 13 uponsliding movement of member 16. Slide member 16 is provided also with aplurality of second openings 18 which are arranged in rows correspondingto the rows of secondary apertures 14 formed in container end surface12. Second openings 18 are adapted to register with secondary apertures14 only when the slide member 16 is in a predetermined position ofslidable adjustment, as seen more clearly in Fig. 1. In this instancesuch predetermined position is when the slide member is moved to itsfullestextent toward the outer periphery of end 12. Slide member 16 isprovided with a struck-out portion or bead formed at one end thereof tofacilitate manual adjustment of the slide member relative to thecontainer end surface 12. The slide member 16 is provided with a pair ofbent portions 21 which are adapted to subtend and slidably engageportions of the container end surface which are circumjacent the primaryaperture 13. Portions 21 in this instance are integral with the exposedportions of member 16 and are provided with a plurality of apertures 18awhich are in coincident relation with respect to theplurality of secondopenings 18 formed in the exposed portion of the slide member 16. Thebent portions 21 of member 16 prevent accidental disengagement of theapparatus from the container. The longitudinal length of bent portions21 is less than the length of the corresponding elongated side ofaperture 13 and thereby permits relative sliding movement of member 16.In addition, because of primary opening 13 being slightly wedge-shapedso that the inner side thereof is slightly narrower than the outer side,the bent portions 21 of member 16 become wedged between the elongatedsides of opening 13, when the slide member 16 is in the position shownin Figs. 2 and 3 and thus frictionally retain member 16 in suchposition.

, To facilitate assembly of slide member 16 on end surface 12, the bentportions 21 are initially bent at right angles to the plane of theexposed portion of member 16, whereupon portions 21 are inserted throughaperture 13 and then the portions bent outwardly so as to engage theunderside of the container end 12.

Carried by slide member 16 is a spout member 22 which is pivotal aboutan axis 23, the latter being disposed adjacent one side of first opening17 and substantially transverse with respect to the rows of openings 18.Spout member22 includes a first portion 24 which extends in onedirection from axis 23, as shown more clearly in the drawings. Portion24 includes a pair of quadrantal imperforate side sections 24a which areadjacent the elongated sides of first opening 17 and slidably engage thebent-back portions 21 of member 16. Corresponding edge portions of sidesections 24a are interconnected by a web section 24b which is of suchdimension as to overlie completely first opening 17 when spout member 22is in one position of pivotal adjustment (see Figs. 1, 2, and .4). Theedge of web section 24b remote from axis 23 overlies a portion of theend surface circumjacent the primary aperture 13 and is offset upwardlya slight amount to form a finger tab 24c to facilitate pivoting of thespout member 22 about an axis 23. The inner or concealed edges of sidesections 24a are provided with laterally extending ears 24d which areadapted to function as stops by contacting the concealed bent-backportions of member 16 and limit the extent to which spout member can bepivoted to its open position.

Spout member 22 is provided with a second portion 25 which extends in anopposite direction from axis 23 relative to first portion 24. Secondportion 25 in this instance comprises a tongue which is integral withfirst portion 24 whereby first and second portions 24 and 25,respectively, pivot as a unit about axis 23. A suitable cut out 13a may,if desired, be formed in one side of primary aperture 13 foraccommodating tongue 25. The depth of the ClltrOllt 13a, however, isless than the extent to which the tongue protrudes from axis 23 for apurpose to be described more fully hereinafter. Tongue 25 is adapted tobe disposed within a pocket formed by a portion of the container endsurface 12 circumjacent cutout 13a, and an offset portion26 formed inslide member 16 (see Fig. 4), only when the spout member is in itsoverlylng or. closed position, with re p s to open ng 7:

and when slide member 16 has been moved to the position shown in Fig.1-that is to say, moved to its fullest extent toward the outer peripheryof end surface 12. When tongue 25 is in the pocket, the spout member 22is locked against pivoting about axis 23 and thus prevents the spoutmember accidentally pivoting to its open position when the apparatus 15is in its sifter position.

Where there is no cut-out 13a provided, the longitudinal dimension ofprimary aperture 13 should be such as to permit the slide member 16 tobe moved a sufiicient amount so as to enable the free edge of the tongue25 to clear the portion .of the end surface 12 circumjacent the outerside of aperture 13.

Thus, it will be seen that an improved dispensing apparatus has beenprovided which permits the pouring spout to be positively locked in itsclosed position when desired, and remain in such positionnotwithstanding the vigorousness of shaking to which the container issubjected. The improved apparatus is simple, sturdy, and compact inconstruction, easily manipulated, and does not interfere with thepackaging of several such containers for shipment or the arrangement ofsuch for display.

While the particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, itwill be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limitedthereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated,therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. A dispensing apparatus for use on a container having a surfacethereof provided with an elongated primary aperture and a secondaryaperture in juxtaposition therewith, said apparatus comprising a firstmember mountable for reciprocatory rectilinear sliding movement on suchcontainer surface and disposed in overlying relation with such primaryand secondary apertures; said first member being provided with a firstelongated opening positionable in continuous registered relation withsuch primary aperture, and a second opening positionable in registrationwith such secondary aperture only upon said first member being disposedin'a predetermined position of sliding adjustment; a spout membercarried by said first member and pivotal about an axis disposed adjacentone side of said first opening and substantially transverse to thedirection of movement of said first member, said spout member, when inone position of pivotal adjustment, overlying and closing off said firstopening; and means associated and movable with said spout member andengageable in overlying relation with a portion of the container surfacecircumjacent the primary aperture to effect locking of said spout memberin an overlying position with said first opening when said first memberis in said predetermined position of slidable adjustment and saidsecondary aperture and second opening are in registered relation.

2. A dispensing apparatus for use on a container having a surfacethereof provided with an elongated primary aperture and a secondaryaperture in juxtaposition therewith, said apparatus comprising a firstmember mountable for reciprocatory rectilinear sliding movement on suchcontainer surface and disposed in overlying relation with such primaryand secondary aperture; said first member being provided with a firstelongated opening positionable in continuous registered relation withsuch primary aperture, and a second opening positionable in registrationwith such secondary aperture only upon said first member being disposedin a predetermined position of sliding adjustment; a spout membercarried by said first member and pivotal about an axis disposed adjacentone side of said first opening and substantially transverse to thedirection of movement of said first member, said spout mem ber extendingin one direction from said axis and when in one position of pivotaladjustment, overlying and closing 011 said first opening; and a tabailixed to said spout member and disposed relative thereto on theopposite side of said spout member axis, said tab being movable as aunit with said support member and adapted to overlie a portion of thecontainer surface circumjacent the primary aperture and render saidspout member immovable about said pivotal axis, when said spout memberis in overlying relation with said first opening and said first memberis in said predetermined position of sliding adjustment.

3. A dispensing apparatus for use on a container having a surfacethereof provided with an elongated primary aperture and a plurality ofsecondary apertures arranged in rectilinear spaced relation With respectto one another to form a row disposed in close proximity to andsubstantially parallel with one side of the primary aperture, saidapparatus comprising a first member mountable for reciprocatoryrectilinear sliding movement on such surface in a direction parallel tothe direction of alignment of said secondary apertures and in overlyingrelation with such primary and secondary apertures, said first memberbeing provided with an elongated first opening positionable incontinuous registered relation with such primary aperture, and aplurality of second openings arranged in rectilinearly spaced relationto form a row substantially coextensive with and disposed in closeproximity to an elongated side of said first opening, said secondopenings being positionable in registration with such secondaryapertures only upon said first member being disposed in a predeterminedposition of sliding adjustment; and an elongated spout member carried bysaid first member and pivotal about an axis disposed adjacent one sideof said first opening and substantially transverse to the direction ofmovement of said first member, said spout member, when in one positionof pivotal adjustment, having a first portion thereof extending in onedirection from said pivotal axis for positioning in overlying andclosing off relation with respect to said first opening, and a tabportion extending in the opposite direction from said pivotal axis, saidfirst and tab portions being movable as a unit about said pivotal axis,said tab portion being positionable in overlying relation with respectto a portion of the container surface circumjacent the primary apertureto effect locking of said spout member against pivotal movement, onlyupon said spout member first portion being in overlying and closing offrelation with respect to said first opening and said first memberassuming said predetermined position of sliding adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,924,999 Mills Aug. 29, 1933 1,959,874 Mills May 22, 1934 1,993,364Ellstrom Mar. 5, 1935 2,745,577 Davis May 15, 1956

